• Violation

  R 400.1916 · 1 R 400.1916 Bedding and sleeping equipment. (13) None of the following are approved sleeping equipment for children 24 months of age or younger: (a) Infant car seats.

  During my telephone interview with Child A's Mother on February 2, 2022, she explained that her son attended the child care for two days, January 28 and February 1, 2022. She added that she and her son visited the home on January 11, 2022. Child A's Mother said she did not have any real concerns after picking up her son on January 28, 2022. But when she arrived to pick him up on February 1, 2022, he was sleeping in his car seat with the winter seat cover over him. Child A's Mother asked Tasha Stone, child care staff member, how long Child A had been sleeping in his car seat. Ms. Stone's reply was, "about 10 minutes". Ms. Betz was in the room, but on the other side of the kitchen counter. Child A's Mother had the 2 video on her cell phone running when Ms. Stone made this statement. Child A's Mother sent the video to me, and I was able to see and hear Ms. Stone's comment. Tammy Betz, licensee, said they decided to get Child A ready for pick up a few minutes prior to the time his mother was picking him up. Ms. Betz said she was in the kitchen, but not near Child A and was not sure how long he was asleep. She did not think it was more than a few minutes because he had not been in his car seat very long. Ms. Betz knows and understands the safe sleep policy. Tasha Stone knows about safe sleep policy and was near Child A while he was in the car seat. She stated he was only asleep a few minutes. I told her that I heard her state to Child A's Mother that he was sleeping in the car seat for about 10 minutes. Ms. Stone agreed that it could have been that long. Ms. Stone thought it was okay because she was right there. Child B and C's Mother stated she has two infants who attend Ms. Betz's child care. They have never been in their car seats when she has arrived. Child B and C's Mother knows about safe sleep and has never seen infants sleep in their car seats or other unapproved equipment. Child D and E's Mother has not seen infants sleep in car seats. She said Ms. Betz has enough cribs and pack n plays for the children. Child F, G, and H's Mother informed me that one morning she suggested her infant stay in their car seat until they woke. Ms. Betz told her she could not do that. She had to move the infant to a crib or pack n play.

Child A (age 6 months) was left sleeping in his car seat for approximately 10 minutes. A large dog was around the child care children without supervision.

Disposition: Substantiated